EBP Compendium: Summary of Clinical Practice Guideline

New Zealand Guidelines Group; Ministry of Health; Stroke Foundation
Life after Stroke: New Zealand Guideline for Management of Stroke
New Zealand Guidelines Group (2003).
Wellington (New Zealand): New Zealand Guidelines Group, 84 pages.

AGREE Rating: Highly Recommended

Description:

This guideline provides recommendations for the assessment and acute and post-acute management of stroke. The audiences intended for this review include health professionals, individuals with stroke and caregivers, and managers/funders of health services. Recommendations are rated A (good evidence), B (fair evidence), C (expert opinion/limited evidence), or recommended as good practice (based on the clinical expertise of the guideline group).

Recommendations:

• Assessment/Diagnosis
  • Assessment Areas
    • Swallowing
      • “Swallowing should be assessed in all people with stroke as soon as possible (and preferably on admission) by appropriately trained personnel using a simple, validated testing protocol” (Level B Evidence) (p. 34).
      • “Any person with an abnormal swallow should be seen by a speech and language therapist, who should assess the person further and advise the person and staff on safe swallowing techniques and strategies and the consistency of diet and fluids” (Level A Evidence) (p. 34).
    • Language
      • General Findings - “People with aphasia following stroke should be referred to a speech and language therapist for assessment and appropriate management of their communication difficulty” (Level B Evidence) (p. 50).
        

Keywords: Stroke

Access the Guideline

Added to Compendium: November 2010